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E. M. LOW & W. B. EMERSON. ENVELOPE MAGH'INE.

No. 544,314. Patented Aug. 13, 1895. am

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UNTTED STATES PATENT EEicE.

EVERETT M. LOW AND .WILLIAM B. EMERSON, OF WORCESTER, MASSA- CHUSETTS,ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE WORCESTER ENVELOPE COMPANY, OFSAMEPL ACE. I

ENVELOPE-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,314, dated August13, 1895. Application filed August 21, 1888- Serial No. 283.377. (N0modeLl To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we,'EvERETT M. Low and WILLIAM B. EMERSON, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester andState of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Envelope-Machines; and we do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which, inconnection with the drawings making a part of this specification, willenable others skilled in the art to which our invention belongs to makeand use the same.

Our invention relates to en velope-machines, and more particularly tothose parts of an envelope-machine which are employed in gumming theenvelope-blank and raising it from the pile of blanks in proper positionto be taken by a reciprocating carriage to the folding mechanism.

The improved guinming mechanism of our toward and away from the gum-boxroll and over the gumming surface of the pick-ups.

The object of our invention is to improve upon the construction of thoseparts of an envelope-machine above referred to and to simplify theirmode of'operation and 'to secure better results than have been securedhereto- Our invention consists in certain novel features of constructionand operation of the gumming mechanism, the pick-up mechanism, and themechanisms connected therewith of an envelope-machine, as will behereinafter fully described.

We have shown in the drawings only such parts of an envelope-machine asare connected with our improvements, to enable those skilled in the artto understand the construction and operation of the same.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion ofan envelopemachine known as the gumming mechanism with our improvementsapplied thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1.Fig. 3 represents, on an enlarged scale, a plan view of the gum-box rolland of the gumming-rolls. Fig. eshows, on an enlarged scale, a detail ofthe pick-ups for gumming and raising the envelope-blanks. Fig. 5 shows,on an enlarged scale, an end view of one of the gumming-roll carriages,one-half being shown in section. Fig. 6 shows, on an enlarged scale, alongitudinal sectional view of the gummingroll carriage, taken on linearas, Fig. 5. Fig. 7,

on an enlarged scale, is a sectional view of the gumming-rolls andoperating-gears, taken on line y y, Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is an end viewlooking in the direction of the arrow at, Fig. 9, showing the camssupported below the bed of the machine and the mechanism for connectingthem with the parts which they operate; and Fig. 9 is a front viewof thecams and mechanisfin shown in Fig. 8, looking in the direction of arrow1), same figure.

In the accompanying drawings, A is a portion of the bed or table of themachine upon which the gumming and other mechanisms are supported, andbelow which are supported in suitable bearings the main driving-shaft M,carrying the driving-pulley N, and the shaft 0, geared to shaft M bygears P and Q, fast on said shafts.

B B are stands attached to the upper side of the table A and supportingthe gum-box C, shelf D, and upper stands or brackets E E. (See Fig. l.)

F is a table carrying a pile of envelopeblanks F and havinga verticalreciprocating motion in Ways in the stand F attached to the table A andoperated by an ordinary blank-feeding motion to cause the blanks to bemoved up at the proper time to be seized by the pick-up mechanism.

G G are the pick-ups for gumming the seal and back flaps of the envelopeafter the lower surface of said pick-ups have been wiped over by thegummingroll. Said pick-ups are attached to a horizontal rod G held by avertical screw-threaded rod G connected to and carried by a slidingplate G sliding in ways a a, supported by the brackets E E. (See Fig.1.) The sliding plate G is given a reciprocating motion in a verticaldirection to cause the pick-ups G G to move up and down by means of thelink G crank-arms G on the shaft G jourualed in bearings supported onthe brackets E E, and having an arm G at its opposite end, and the rod Gconnected with said arm, (see Fig. 1,) and the lower end of said rod Gpivoted to an arm V, hinged at its opposite end at U, (see Fig. 8,) andcarrying a roll S, which extends into a groove in the cam T, fast on theshaft 0. (See Fig. 9.) The revolution of said cam imparts the properreciprocating vertical motion to the pick-ups G G, through theintervening mechanism between said pick-ups and cam, to cause saidpick-ups to be brought into contact with the top blank on the pile ofblanks F and to raise said blank to be carried oif to thefolding-machine.

The horizontal rod G carrying the pickups G and G, also carries an arm Gwith the outer end bifurcated and forming a bearing for the verticalshaft G, to which the pickup G is attached for the purpose of gummingthe under surface of one of the side flaps of the envelope-blank. (SeeFig. 1.)

The vertical shaft G passes through the lugs G between which is held anarm G having a spline connection with shaft G (see Fig. 4,) but heldfrom longitudinal movement on the shaft by means of lugs G The arm G isgiven avibratory motion to cause the pick-up G to be operated at theproper time by means of the connecting-rod G sliding in bearings G onthe bracket E, and bellorank lever G", pivoted on said bracket, andconnecting-rod G, which carries a roll G which is operated by a cam G onthe shaft and has a' spring G attached to its lower end. (See Fig. 9.)

By means of the cam G and the intervening mechanism the pick-up G ismoved from the position shown by full lines, Figs. 1 and 2, to theposition shown in Fig. 4, in which position the gumming-surface of thepick-up i is brought into line with the gummingsurface of the back-flappick-up G, so the same gumming-roll will serve to gum both the pick-upsG and G with a short traversing motion.

During the descent of the pick-ups G and G upon the pile ofenvelope-blanks the side pick-up G is moved from the position shown inFig. 4 one-quarter of a revolution to the position shown in Figs. 1 and2 and into position to gum the side flap of the blank, and as thepick-ups G and G are again raised the side pick-up G is carried by themovement of the bell-crank lever G and connected mechanism to theposition shown in Fig. 4, the vertical shaft G sliding through the armG.

Brackets E E have bosses b, through which pass horizontal rods E towhose outer ends are attached guide-rods F. (see Fig. 2) by means of therods E (see Fig. 1,) whose screwthreaded ends pass through holes in theends The guide-rods E are parallel with each other, and they form theways for the gumming-roll carriages, which are shown in enlarged viewsin Figs. 5 and 6, and which consist of sleeves E provided with thetapering chambers E, in which are placed the washers or disks H,preferably of leather or rawhide. The chambers are closed by the platesE and by means of said plates E the leather washers H are compressedupon the guide-rods by means of screws d, passing through lugs e on theplates E and being screwed into lugs fon the sleeves E (See Fig. 3.)

The blocks E furnish bearings for gumming-roll shafts E and E carryingthe gumming-rolls E and E and the pinions E and E fast on said shafts.(See Fig. 3.) The blocks 3. are suspended beneath the sleeves E and arepivoted thereto by means of pointed screws or centers g. (See Fig. 5.)Studs 72. are secured in the outer ends of the blocks E at each side ofthe machine, (see Fig. 3,) upon which is held one end of theconnecting-rods E connecting the blocks E with the arms E upon rockingshaft E journaled in bearings upon the table A, (see Fig. 1,) and havinga radial arm E fast thereon and connected by a rod E pivoted at E on avertically-moving lever-arm E having a spring E at its lower end andcarrying a roll E engaging with and operated by a cam E on the shaft 0.(See Figs. 8 and 9.) By means of cam E and the intervening mechanism atraversing motion is imparted to the blocks E and the sleeves E causingthe gumming-rolls connected therewith, as will be hereinafter described,to be moved back and forth under the pick-up arms.

when the gumming-rolls are moved by the pushing action of the arm E ortoward the right in Fig. 1, the blocks E are rocked upon the centers guntil the swinging motion of said blocks E is limited by their beingbrought into contact with the sleeves E the sleeves E being meantimeheld from sliding by the friction of the leather washers H on theguide-rods E thereby bringing the shaft E and gumming-rolls E higherthan the shaft E and rolls E and with the surface of the gumming-roll Ein contact with the gumming-surface of the pick-ups G, G, and G.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the gumming-rolls are shown at the extreme endof theirmovement toward the right and the roll E in contact with the go m-boxroll 0, from which the gumming-rolls E and E receive a supply ofgum.

Beneath the shafts E and E of the gum rolls E and E when the same are inthe position shown in Fig. 1, is journaled in bearings on the shelf D ashaft J, carrying a pinion J, (see Fig. 3,) which is engaged by asliding rack J having an intermittent sliding motion in ways on theshelf D and actuated by lever J connected at its upper end with saidrack J and pivoted at J on a bracket J secured to the bed A. (See Figs.8 and 9.) The lower end of said lever J is provided with a roll J whichengages with a groove J 6 in the cam J on the shaft 0. (See Fig. 9.) Therevolution of the cam J causes the lever J to be moved in and out, andgives a reciprocating sliding motion to the rack J The shaft J has alsoa partial gear J thereon, (see Figs. 1, 3, and 7,) which is in positionto engage the pinions E and E on the shafts E and E of the gum-rolls Eand E The gear J has one side cut away (see Fig. 7) to allow the pinionsE and F. to pass over it and not engage it at certain times. During theperiod that the gum-roll E is in contact with the gum-box roll the rackJ is moved a short distance in one direction and returned, imparting apartial rotation and reverse to the shaft J and partial gear J ,causingthe gear .1 to engage the pinions E and E and rotate the gumming-rolls Eand E After the movement of the partial gear J it is left in theposition shown in Figs. 1 and 7, allowing the pinions E and E to passover it. The arms E are then rocked by means of the cam E andintervening mechanism, drawing the blocks E to the left and rocking saidblocks on the centers 9 through the limit of their swinging motion, andthe sleeves F. are moved, carrying the gumming-rolls E and E over thelower surfaces of the pickups, to gum the same, into the position shownby dotted lines at K, Fig. 1. Gumming-rolls E and E then remain atrestwhile the side pick-up G is moved from the position shown in Fig. 4 andby dotted lines in Fig. 1 to the position shown by full lines in Figs. 1and '2, and the pickups are then moved down into contact with the pileof envelope-blanks F and are then raised and the side pick-up G12 movedback to the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, and full lines, Fig.4, when the motion of the arms E is reversed and the blocks E againrocked, bringing gum-roll E into the highest position and thegummingrolls moved back into their first position with the gum-roll E incontact with the gum-box roll 0', as shownin Figs. 1 and 2.

By meansof the pair of gumming-rolls E and E andthe rocking motion givento said rolls in the manner above described said rolls are alternatelyused as gumming-rollsthe roll E as the gumming-rolls are moved towardthe right, Fig. 1, and the roll E as said rolls are moved toward theleft, Fig. 1. The gumming-roll which is not engaged in the act ofgumming the under surfaces of the pick-ups acts as a doctor-roll tosecure a more even distribution of the gum over the roll which is atthat time in contact with the pick-up arm.

The gum-rolls E and E are moved only in one direction as eachenvelope-blank is gummed, both rolls taking a supply of gum from thegum-box O at the end of their movement to the right, and gumming-roll Esurface of the pick-ups as the rolls are moved I toward the right.

The plates E on the sleeves E are tightened upon the washers H until thefriction upon the guide-rods E is just sufficient to cause the blocks Eto be rocked. Each end of the guide-rods E is, vertically adjustable,allowing said guide-rods to be brought into a position parallel with theunder surfaces of the pick-ups, and also allowing the horizontal planeof the guide-rods to be raised or lowered, as desired.

The box-roll shaft 0 Fig. 3, has a continuous rotary motion through themiter-beveled gears L, shaftL', supported in bearings on the shelf D,and grooved pulley L fast on said shaft L, and belt L passing around thepul ley L on the shaft M. (See Fig. 8.)

By using two gumming-rolls instead of one, as heretofore, we effect thegumming of the pick-ups for two blanks at each complete movement of thegumming-rolls forward and back, with the use of a single gum-box.

It will be understood that the details of construction of the variousparts of our improved mechanisms for envelope-machines may be variedsomewhat from what is shown in the drawings and above described withoutdeparting from the principle of our invention. For example, our improvedgummlng mechanism or gumming-rolls may be used on envelope-machines inwhich the blanks are raised by pneumatic action to gum the gummers towhich the blanks are fed, as is customary in some kinds ofenvelope-machines. Having thus described our invention, what we claim asnew, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an envelope machine, the combination with a revolving gum boxroll, and pickups for gumming the envelope blanks, of a pair of gummingrolls held in bearings and having a traverse motion across the gummingsurfaces'of said pickups, said gumming rolls having a rocking motionwhereby one of said gumming rolls is moved into contact with thepickups, as said rolls are moved in one direction, and the other of saidrolls is moved into contact with the pickups as said rolls are moved inthe opposite direction, substantially as set forth.

2. In an envelope machine, the combination with a rotating gum box roll,of a pair of gumming rolls having a traverse motion toward and away fromsaid gum box roll, and said gumming rolls having a positive rotationwhile in contact with the gum box roll, independently of the rotation ofthe gum box roll, whereby the gum solution taken from the gum box rollis evenly distributed between said gumming rolls, substantially asdescribed.

3. The combination with a gum box roll rotating partially immersed in agum solution,

of the traverse gumming rolls E and E pinions E and E shaft J, gearJ',actuating rack J and partial gear J all arranged and operated,substantially as described.

4. In an envelope machine, the combination with the pickups for gummingthe envelope blanks, of a pair of gumming rolls having a traverse motionacross the gumming surfaces of the pickups, sleeves E sliding on ways,swinging blocks E pivoted to said sleeves, said blocks having bearingsfor the gumming rolls, and studs to which the roll actuating mechanismis attached, and roll actuating mechanism by which said rolls are movedacross the gumming surfaces of the pickups, substantially as described.

5. The combination with parallel ways E sleeves capable of sliding onsaid ways and provided with tapering chambers, semi-elastic washers heldin said tapering chambers, of gumming rolls supported by said sleeves,and plates E connected with said sleeves by tightening screws, wherebythe pressure of said semi-elastic washers on said ways is increased,substantially as described.

6. The combination with pick ups, for gumming the seal and back flaps ofan envelope blank, attached to a vertically reciprocating plate, of apick up for gumming one of the side flaps of the envelope blank, saidside pick up being pivoted to the vertically moving plate and adapted tohave a quarter rotation in a horizontal plane, whereby said side pickupis moved into position to gum the side flap at the downward end of itsmotion, and into position to be gummed by the gumming roll when at theupward end of its motion, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with the pickups for gumming an envelope blank, ofarm G pickup G for gumming the side flap of the envelope blank, pivotedin the free end of the arm G shaft G coincident with the axis of theside pickup, arm G having a spline connection but held from longitudinalmovement on said shaft G and connected actuating mechanism,substantially as described, whereby said shaft G is given a partialrotation for the purpose of bringing the side pickup from a position forgumming the blank, to a position to receive gum from a gumming roll, andvice versa, substantially as described.

8. The combination with the horizontal bar G carrying a pickup forgumming the back flap of the envelope blank, and an arm G of a sidepickup for gumming the side flap of the envelope blank, said side pickupbeing pivoted in said arm G and capable of a partial rotation from aposition for gumming the side flap, to one in line with the back flappickup for the purpose of receiving gum fromthe roll used in gumming theback flap pickup, substantially as described.

9. The combination with pickups G, and G, of arm G pickup G adapted togum the side flap of the envelope blank, and pivoted in said arm, shaftG arm G having a spline connection with said shaft and held in lugs onthe rigid part of the machine, connecting rod G and bell crank lever G,substantially as described.

10. The combination with pickups G, G, and pivoted side pickup G, ofgumming rolls E and E having a traverse motion across the pickups G, G,substantially as described.

11. The combination with a rotating gum box roll, of a pair of gummingrolls having parallel axes, and having pinions by which they arerotated, and an actuating pinion having a rocking motion, and engagingsaid roll pinions while the gumming rolls are in contact with the gumbox roll, substantially as described.

12. The combination of roll shaf s E and E rolls E and E pinions E and Elocated between the sections of the rolls, shaft .T, gears J and Jsliding rack J having a reciprocating motion, and engaging the gear J,and the gear J engaging the roll pinions, whereby the rolls are given arotary motion while they are in contact with the gum box roll,substantially as described.

13. The combination with the pickups G, and G, and pickup G pivotedabout a vertical axis so as to be capable of making a partial rotation,of the gumming rolls E and E carried in rocking blocks E pivoted uponsleeves E having a frictional resistance upon guide rods, and said guiderods, and actuating mechanism connected with said rocking blocks,substantially as described.

14. The combination with pickups G, G, and side pickup G pivoted so asto be capable of a partial rotation in a horizontal plane, of a pair ofgumming rolls having a traverse motion across the gumming surfaces ofsaid pickups, and means for operating said rolls, substantially as setforth.

EVERETT M. LOW. WM. B. EMERSON. Witnesses:

RUFUS B. FOWLER, H. M. FOWLER.

